INVENTOR LAUNDRYMAN

John Bruorton Hooper, third generation owner and President of Salem Laundry Company and prominent Rotarian, died peacefully in his Marblehead home on May 14th, 2009. He leaves Joan, his beloved wife of 57 years.

Born April 6, 1925 to Rebekah Bruorton and George Wilbur Hooper, John served in the U.S. Navy as a Quartermaster Second Class in the South Pacific. He was a graduate of Admiral Billard Academy and the Engineering School at Tufts University, Class of 1951. John's love of sailing led him to the Tufts sailing team where he met his wife Joan Colt of Providence, RI. They cruised together from Maine to the Bahamas, the Adriatic and Scotland. They both had their pilot's licenses and flew their plane across the country and to the Bahamas.

John was named President of the Salem Laundry Company in 1954. He also served as President of the New England Laundry Association and the New England Coin Laundry Association. Always a leader in the industry, he and his son Jeff invented the Easy Card System, the first debit card system engineered specifically for the self-serve laundry industry to eliminate using quarters.

A Rotarian for many years, John was elected President of the Salem Rotary in 1978. He was very proud and supportive of the programs and charitable accomplishments that Rotary achieves. He served as District Governor from 1995-1996 and as Chairman of the Salem Rotary Scholarship Foundation. John traveled extensively to participate in International Rotary Conventions.

John's charitable contributions also include serving on many Boards of Directors. He served over 40 years on the Board of the Salem Hospital-North Shore Medical Center; helped establish the North Shore Children's Hospital on the Salem Hospital Campus. He served on the Boards of the Bertram House for Aged Men ( Now the Bertram House for Assisted Living) ; and the Red Feather Agency which evolved into the United Fund of Salem; and also the Salem YMCA. He served as Chairman of the City of Salem's Planning Board in 1963-1967.

He is pre-deceased by his daughter Lucy Hooper Favaloro and his sister Rebekah Anne Peterson.

Besides his wife he leaves his children, Sarah B. Hooper of Salem; George W. Hooper and his wife Jane of Marblehead; Jefferson C. Hooper and his wife Susan of Nahant. His loving grandchildren are: Jennifer Lee- Hooper, James B. Hooper, Abigail L. Hooper, Caroline J. Hooper and John D. Hooper.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his memorial service on Saturday, May 30th at 10:00 A.M. in the Tabernacle Congregational Church, UCC, 50 Washington Street ~ Corner of Federal Street, Salem. Parking is available in the Murphy Funeral Home Parking lot Interment will be private. At the family's request there are no visiting hours. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Salem Rotary Club\Vance M. Smith III , Robert M. "Buck" Alexander D.M.D Scholarship Foundation, C/O Cabot Money Management, P.O. Box 150, Salem, MA 01970. For additional information or online guest book please contact the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., Salem, MA, 978 744 0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.